Miami Hurricanes QB Tyler Van Dyke says team culture “best since I’ve been here … we just want to win"

Miami Hurricanes quarterback Tyler Van Dyke is looking to regain the magic that made him the ACC Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2021 before a down, injury-riddled 2022 season.

In a new offense under Shannon Dawson, who runs a QB-friendly hybrid Air-Raid, all signs are this will be a resurgent season for Van Dyke.

He expressed optimism looking ahead to the season during a Late Kick with Josh Pate interview.

“Our culture has been the best since I’ve been here,” Van Dyke said. “Guys are putting in every ounce of effort into workouts, watching extra film, extra meeting time. Guys just want to win. We were sick of last season (5-7), how it went for us. Guys have turned the notch to how it needs to be, to that Miami culture. It’s been good.”

Van Dyke has all the talent you want in your quarterback, and the leadership to go with it.

He’s got that prototypical NFL drop-back passer build and also has a bit of agility to go with it. His arm checks the NFL box, and so does his accuracy.

A quick refresher on Van Dyke: He was a backup behind D’Eriq King as a true freshman in 2020 (playing off bench in 2 games), then in 2021 was again expected to be behind King. But he was thrust into a starting role after King’s season-ending injury and wound up starring as a starter in the final 9 games of the season. He earned ACC Offensive Rookie of the Year honors after completing 62.3 percent of his passes for 2,931 yards with 25 TD passes and just six INTs.

Then last year Van Dyke was slow out of the gate in Josh Gattis’ new offense. In the first four games, including a trio of perceived overmatched opponents Bethune-Cookman, Southern Miss and Middle Tennessee, he totaled just four TD passes with three interceptions. And he threw for under 200 yards in two of those games and didn’t surpass 261 yards in any. Then he came alive vs. UNC (496 passing yards, 3 TDs, 1 INT) and Virginia Tech (342 yards, 2 TDs, 0 INTs) before suffering what was essentially a season-ending injury in the first half vs. Duke.

He tried to come back vs. FSU and Pitt but was quickly reinjured. He ended with 1,835 passing yards, 10 TDs and five INTs.

“It was tough last year,” Van Dyke said. “After the (Texas) A&M game I feel like we sunk our heads a little bit after that, could have won that game, led to the next one. We weren’t looking forward to this year yet at that point, we were still trying to work every day but it was definitely a tough environment losing game after game. We’re a winning team, the way we practice, way we train, we’re winning. The way it went, that’s not us.

“I know what I’m capable of. Those injuries last year hurt us – I was injured, guys up front, defense (were hurt). It was tough.”

Van Dyke points to the improvements on the OL, DL and at wide receiver with additions in the portal and recruiting as helping quickly reshape the roster for the better.

“Bringing those guys for this year is definitely going to be helpful,” he said.

The ultimate goal is to return Miami to its championship ways of the past. But it’s one step at a time. The idea is to start building for that run.

“It would be special – we have the guys to do it, a great group of guys just talent-wise,” Van Dyke said. “If we it all together this team can do something special.

That’s our goal this year just to leave a mark on this 2023 season, kind of bring Miami back into college football.”
Van Dyke is also working hard to take on the leadership needed to turn around a down season. He’s got some help on that end.

Self-accountability within the team is key, Van Dyke says.

“We’re returning a lot of guys, veteran presence leadership,” Van Dyke said. “I think that will help a lot. You have Kam Kinchens, James Williams, Colbie Young, guys like Matt Lee, Javion (Cohen) are all leaders as well. Having a group of those guys will definitely help us succeed.”

The bottom line thought from Van Dyke?

“I’ve been working my butt off every single day with this team,” Van Dyke said. “It’s all about winning.”

*Van Dyke says he’s been eating healthier and taking care of his body with the goal to “become more mobile.”

“I’m very capable of that, I’m not going to be the quarterback that runs for 60 yards, scoring TDs with my feet,” he said. “It’s all about extending the play, getting what I can get to move the offense when things aren’t there.”